Published: November 02, 2006 11:22 pm      

One of the best

SHSU’s Terry added to Payton Award list

He’s been showcasing his talent all season to Bearkat fans and opposing teams, but Sam Houston State running back D.D. Terry is finally gaining national attention.

The senior from Willis was added to the Walter Payton Award watch list Wednesday, an honor given each year to Division I-AA’s top offensive performer. Terry joins three other newcomers on the list of 16 of the top players in the country.

The addition comes a week after Terry rushed for 253 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-18 loss to McNeese State.

“It’s a great feeling and I just have to thank God because without him none of this would be possible,” Terry said. “I’m ecstatic about the whole thing. I have to thank my whole line and receivers for blocking for me. I’m so happy it is hard to put it into words.”

Terry used the biggest stage of the season to start turning heads across the country when he rushed for 85 yards against Texas, one of the nation’s top rushing defenses.

He followed it up with 109 in a 30-20 win over Northwestern State, including a 74-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game. It was the first of four consecutive games in which he reached the century mark, becoming only the second player in SHSU history to reach that feat.

For the season, he has carried the ball 140 times for a Southland Conference high 877 yards and 10 touchdowns despite missing the first game of the season and seeing limited action in the SMU and Missouri State contests. Terry has also caught 14 passes for 122 yards.

“We knew he was a great athlete, he just hadn’t carried the ball since high school. But he keeps getting better each week,” SHSU head coach Todd Whitten said. “It’s obvious that he is explosive, and he is a hard runner that catches the ball well. We are so pleased, because we wouldn’t be where we are right now at 4-4 with a chance to compete for a conference championship without D.D.”

Terry, who was moved to running back from linebacker before the start of the season, rushed for 176 and three scores against Nicholls State and 135 and a touchdown in a loss to Central Arkansas.

His 253 yards last week was the second best single game rushing performance ever at SHSU behind McNeil Moore, who gained 286 in 1951. Terry is the fourth Bearkat to named to the Payton list. Quarterbacks Dustin Long (runnerup in 2004), Josh McCown (2001) and Chris Chaloupka (1999) are the other SHSU players to share the honor.

“I think I’m doing a great job, but it is all because of the guys around me,” Terry said. “I’m cannot get comfortable where I’m at because there is always something to work on. Coaches are always telling me there is something to work on, and I try to get better each week. But I don’t mind being a leader, that’s the role of a senior. I like being a guy that other players can look up to.”